Oookay, here’s my problem: My 350ish mp3’s are all on this computer, which is my crappy computer, and it blue screens every ten minutes or so. I have a feeling we’re going to get rid of this computer soon. But I would really rather keep my mp3’s.
So here’s the problem: I want to put them on my other computer, the good one. But this computer, with the mp3’s on it, doesn’t have a CD Burner or anything else to get them off of it. I could upload them on some free server, one by one, then download them, one by one, but I would rather not…
Does anyone out there have a solution to this problem?
iPod
Don’t you need XP for that? This computer still runs on 98… My upstairs computer has XP, though, and I’m hoping to get an iPod for Christmas.
Also, I don’t have a firewire or USB port on this computer. So that won’t work.
Take the hard drive out of the old computer and put it in the new computer. Then copy the MP3s and other files that you want to the new hard drive. When you’re done you can remove the old hard drive, or keep it and use it as extra storage.
You may have to fiddle with the jumpers on the hard drive. You’ll need to install it as a slave drive when you move it to the other computer. The hard drive manufacturer sites have installation guides that will describe what you need to do. Or, you could take both computers to a computer shop and have them move the hard drive over, but that costs money.
I /could/ do that, but my dad who knows nothing about computers is afraid I’ll break it if I do anything to it. And he wouldn’t take it to a professional, because he doesn’t care about my music…
The other option is to connect the two computers with a network cable and create a mini two computer local area network. But that process is far more complex than moving the hard drive over. Making a little mini network can be a bit difficult with all of the various settings and stuff that needs to be configured. Once the network is configured you can copy the files over.
Moving the hard drive over is the easiest solution and is not difficult as long as you’re not a klutz. Read through the installation guides at the hard drive company web sites. There are also other helpful guides on the internet. Check this Google search.
I suggest buy a Mini Disk player and some disks and download them onto that. Then upload them onto the other computer, then return the mini disk player saying its “not for you…”
David
How, with no USB or Firewire connectors on the old computer?
I suppose there is the option to beg and borrow a USB card. Install the USB card in the old computer long enough to connect some sort of USB drive and copy the files. There are all sorts of USB drives that would work. Little flash drives (thumb drives), Zip drives, and more.
Another option is to beg and borrow an old parallel port Zip drive. Back before USB, there were Iomega Zip drives that connected to the parallel port (the printer port). One of those with a Zip disk wold work.
Store em on gmail then transfer them. It’s gonna be a pain in the ass to do each individually, so zip them into a giant file. Still won’t be fun, but it’s free, and it sounds like thats what you’re going for.
How about a parallel-port transfer? You don’t have to open up either computer.
http://www.compusa.com/products/product_info.asp?product_code=50045861
from the above link…
[I]
Gold Series Direct Cable Connection for Windows 95, 98 and 2000, Black, 10 feet, DB25 Male to DB25 Male
Manufacturer: Belkin
Mfg Part #: F3D508-10-GLD
Product Number: 50045861
$9.36
Connect two computers with DB25 female parallel ports to share information (e-mail and files) and devices (such as printers and Zip drives). Can be used to transfer information and synchronize files from a laptop to a desktop PC
- This cable has crossed “null-modem” wiring design.
- Uses only Windows® 95, 98 and 2000 preinstalled drivers to make the direct connection. [/I]
You could also use a serial “null-modem” cable. You can then run Hyperterminal (or whatever) on each computer and do a ZMODEM transfer (click Send on one machine and Receive on the other). I’ve done this sort of thing before – long ago – but I’ve never tried the parallel port connection.
Usually a USB cable comes with it. But do you not have a drive for it?
David
That’s a Direct Cable Connection (DCC). You’re creating a network connection between the two computers using a parallel cable or serial cable. I’ve done it before. The details of getting it all to work are a little involved. It’s more than just plug and play. You’re creating a network connection so you have the network setup issues to deal with.
Here’s a guide that explains how to do it: Direct Cable Connection step by step setup. A Google search will find more DCC setup guides.
You need to use either a special parallel cable or a special serial cable (a NULL modem cable).
Creating the DCC network is very similar to creating a regular Ethernet network connection between two computers.
If you choose to make an Ethernet connection you’ll need a special Ethernet cable called a cross-over cable. The steps are pretty much the same as setting up the parallel port or serial port connection with a few different details. Here are two guides that give a bit of a how to:
Networking Two PCs Via a Crossover Cable
Direct Crossover Cable Connections
Crossover Ethernet cables are cheap and easy to find. Cheaper than a special parallel cable or a NULL modem cable. I’m assuming that your old computer has a network card. If not, then you’re connecting with a modem and I feel sorry for you. 
350 songs? just download them again… any obscure stuff just zip and gmail yourself
When you get a real MP3 collection then we’ll start talking dillemma.
To give you an idea I have about 9,000 songs in my collection and I still concider that small, afterall I can fit every song on a 40gig ipod and still have 5 more gigs of music to spare.
Okay, but again, how about a serial cable (the null-modem kind, or if he already has a regular serial cable, add a null-modem adapter *) and HyperTerminal?
Run a communications program on both machines (the “comes with” HyperTerminal is good enough). Tell one to send a file and tell the other to receive a file. Absolutely NOTHING to configure. Not a network. Very simple, old-fashioned, and easy. The only configuration is something like COM1, 38400-8-N-1 with hardware flow-control.
John, you must be too young for such old-fashioned simplicity? 
-
- well, maybe not, because the cable is cheaper
I think we have to remember that the computer with the music files on it is very unstable. How many hours would it take to transfer all the songs over a parallel cable? He might be better off installing a fresh copy of Win2K and borrowing a nic and crossover cable (or use a multi port repeater) to transfer the files.
Thanks for the suggestions, everyone! I think my best bet would probably be uploading them, but if possible, I’ll see if I can use the Direct Cable Connection. All I know is that anything involving installing hardware into either computer won’t go over with my parents…
checkernuts: Yeah, I know, my collection is small compared to many other peoples. I’ve only been downloading them for a few months, so…
I could download all of them again… but that would take a few days or weeks, and I don’t /really/ want to.
I’m not too young for that.
I’ve used terminal programs to connect two computers and transfer files. The Hyperterminal solution does have a certain air of simplicity compared to the DCC or Ethernet connections.
The DCC or Ethernet solution does have the advantage of easier file transfer once it is all set up. You’ll be able to browse to the shared folder and drag and drop the files that you want. The problem is getting it all setup in the first place.
The Hyperterminal solution will require more user interaction to transfer each file. The free version of Hyperterminal doesn’t have a host mode so you’ll have to start each transfer manually on each computer. You’ll have to go to the first computer, select the file, and tell it to transfer that file using XModem or ZModem. Then you’ll have to the receiving computer and tell it to receive the file.
To make things easier it would be a good idea to zip the MP3 files up into a few archive files. That will mean fewer files to transfer and will also make it easier to keep the original file names.
The fancy way to do it would be to use a terminal program that has a host mode, like Telix for DOS, and set up a little basic BBS on the host computer to make transferring the files a little more convenient. I’m old enough to have a paid for version of Telix for DOS and it has a neat little host mode script. The problem there is that Telix for DOS doesn’t know how to deal with long file names.
It’s funny that we’re going through all this just so Mr. Potter can save his little collection of pirated MP3 files.
If your computer is so old and rickety, what’s the worry with taking out the HDD and putting it in the other computer? Oh, the other computer. I guess that’s one of the drawbacks of not owning your equipment. It belongs to them so it’s their choice.
So, I have a parallel port Zip drive sitting in the original box. Works perfectly. How much is it worth to you? Make me an offer. I also have a stack of disks I don’t need any more (I still have a USB Zip drive that I use for Quicken backups, but plenty of extra disks).